As a rule of thumb, the more RAM you have in your PC, the better. That’s not even debatable. We actually did a post on how to tell how much Computer RAM you need for your PC , so if you need the primer, please start there. Deciding among 8GB associated with DDR4 vs 16GB of DDR3 raises a couple of questions, chief among which is what DDR4 and DDR3 stand for exactly.
Without delving too far deep into technicalities, know that DDR or DDR SDRAM stands for Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic Random-Access Memory . RAM is computer short-term memory onto which data that the processor is currently using is loaded.
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Appending the particular numbers to DDR is done to differentiate between generations of RAM; DDR4 is the newer one between the two, having been released in 2014 vs -DDR3 which was released 7 years prior in 2007. We have previously covered the particular technical differences between the two, so we will skip that, although a person can read all about it.
Read more about DDR SDRAM here:
As stated earlier, DDR4 was the successor to the hugely popular DDR3. Released in 2014, DDR4 has steadily consolidated its position as the market leader plus pushed -DDR3 to the sidelines. DDR4 boasts data transfer speeds of 2133. 33~4266. 67 MT/s compared to 800~2133. 33 MT/s that will DDR3 can muster. What’s more, DDR4 consumes far less power at 1. 05~1. 2V in comparison to 1. 35~1. 5V by DDR3. Power draw isn’t much associated with a concern for a desktop that’s always plugged in, but it does make a difference for laptop batteries.
On paper, DDR4 will be a beast when pitted against DDR3. Our post isn’t regarding raw power and exactly what not. We are more concerned about capacity and whether this makes a good decision in order to either go with the faster, smaller capacity RAM, or just more memory space.
Motherboard compatibility
First things first, before you make that all important decision whether to choose DDR3 or even DDR4, keep in mind that RAM MEMORY chips are not interchangeable. You can’t swap 1 out for the other hence once you make your decision, it won’t be easy to jump ship without some financial implications. Most motherboards only support one type of RAM i. e DDR2, DDR3, DDR4 e. t. c.
Before you purchase MEMORY, we need to know what kind of RAM is usually compatible with your PC motherboard. DDR RAM chips are designed differently from each other. The notches between pins are at different intervals to ensure a person don’t insert the wrong RAM MEMORY in a PC that doesn’t support it. It would be remiss of us not to mention this before we get any deeper.
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Cost implications
Now let’s do the comparison associated with the going rate of RAM sticks in the -DDR3 and the DDR4 category. For starters, DDR3 1600MHz SODIMM 16GB MEMORY (2×8 GB) from Samsung costs $38. 00 while DDR3 16000MHz DIM 16GB (2 x 8GB) desktop memory module costs $49. 98 on Amazon. In comparison, A Samsung 2666MHz DDR4 8GB SO-DIMM memory component costs $29. 99 (16GB costs $40. 34) whilst Samsung 8GB DDR4 2666MHZ DIMM desktop computer module costs $29. 19 (16GB expenses $49. 73 ). These prices might vary depending on the OEMs but not really by much.
Given these options, it’s a no-brainer that I would choose DDR4 RAM over DDR3. Much as this post is in between 8GB associated with DDR4 versus 16GB of DDR3, I would turn it on the head plus choose the particular best deal of the lot, and in this case, it is the 16GB of DDR4 which is definitely practically the particular same price as -DDR3.
The reason DDR3 RAM MEMORY is roughly the same price because DDR4 or even a lot more expensive can be due in order to the fact that big companies are shifting away from the older DDR3 and repurposing their foundries to manufacture the greater popular DDR4 plus DDR5.
Please note that will SODIMM is laptop RAM and DIMM is desktop RAM.
The Gamer vs the particular Surfer
Gamers, graphic designers, the whole bunch of users who run heavy applications require a bit more juice out associated with their PCs than your own average Joe are better served simply by more RAM MEMORY. Given the option to select between 8GB DDR4 and 16GB -DDR3, the rule of thumb applies. It doesn’t matter how shiny and new DDR4 MEMORY is, memory is storage and in a pitchfork fight between 8GB of DDR4 vs 16GB of DDR3, I would choose the 16GB to shovel more information any day.
That said, your average Joe (like me) or your own average Jane for most with regard to the most part wouldn’t need the extra RAM. We were getting by with 4GB without any complaint the few years back. Using the Office Suite, playing music plus movies, browsing the internet and all that don’t consume that much RAM. Even notorious resource hogs like Chrome are cleaning up their act and working with the system capabilities. Paired along with a good CPU plus an SSD, 8GB is certainly plenty for many consumers out there.
Future Proofing
RAM is an important specification but by no means the majority of important when choosing a computer. While 16GB of -DDR3 RAM is appealing, this also means that your computer is probably old. DDR4 has become ubiquitous to the particular point that most PCs launched these days come with DDR4 RAM, not DDR3.
In DDR3’s heyday, there were limitations to just how much RAM a computer can utilize. That’s no longer the case anymore. If it means going regarding the 8GB DDR4, so be it, if I get to use the latest GPU and CPU which you will certainly find in a newer hauptplatine.
The reason I might select 8GB DDR4 RAM more than 16GB DDR3 RAM will be the fact that We get to exercise the particular option to enjoy the latest hardware and software improvements. If Microsoft’s snafu concerning supported hardware for installing Windows 11 was any kind of indicator, older PCs miss out upon lots of technological advancements. As mentioned earlier, major Oes themselves are scaling down the produce of -DDR3 RAM, which usually inadvertently causes the costs to creep upwards.
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In conclusion
As of writing this post, systems supporting DDR5 RAM have hit the shelves and are looking to unseat the current industry standard DDR4. However DDR3 RAM is still hanging on if simply by a thread. Computers generally tend to possess a long shelf life and that will might explain why DDR3 still had a dog in this particular fight.
On the downside, DDR3 will be usually a good accompaniment of older equipment. Newer computers come with better pc processors plus graphics processors, and DDR4. The fact that -DDR3 costs approximately the same in case not more than DDR4 makes it a hard sell or anyone basing their own decision upon capacity alone.
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